Alcohol licence for an online alcohol business
Selling alcohol through a website, app or marketplace does not remove the licensing requirements that apply to the underlying alcohol sale.
The key issue is how the business takes, fulfils and dispatches orders, and which physical premises is connected with the retail sale of alcohol.
Does a website need a Premises Licence?
The website itself is not a physical licensed premises. The licensing analysis focuses on the premises connected with the alcohol sale and fulfilment process. Under the Licensing Act framework for remote sales, the place where alcohol is appropriated to the contract is particularly important.
Because fulfilment models differ, identify the correct premises before trading rather than assuming that the website, registered office or payment location determines the answer. Where can I sell alcohol online?
What licences are commonly involved?
- A Premises Licence authorising the retail sale of alcohol from the relevant premises
- A DPS named on the Premises Licence where alcohol sales are authorised
- A Personal Licence held by the DPS
- Appropriate operating procedures for age verification, refusals and delivery
What is a premises licence? · What is a personal licence? · What is a DPS?
Home, warehouse or an existing shop
Selling from home
A home-based alcohol business can still fall within the licensing regime. The position depends on how stock is stored, orders are fulfilled and alcohol is appropriated to the contract. Planning, mortgage or tenancy, insurance, neighbour impact and delivery activity may also need to be considered. Selling alcohol from home
Warehouse or third-party fulfilment
Where stock is picked, packed or appropriated at a warehouse or fulfilment location, check the licensing arrangements for that premises and the contractual model carefully. Do not assume a third-party logistics provider's permissions cover the retailer's own licensing responsibilities.
An existing licensed shop
If an existing shop already holds a Premises Licence with off-sales, online orders may be capable of operating from that premises. Review the licence, conditions and operating model before launch: some existing conditions may not have been drafted with remote sales or delivery in mind.
Age verification and delivery controls
Remote sales move the point of handover away from a shop counter, so the controls need to cover the whole journey:
- Age-gating or age-verification procedures at order stage
- Clear Challenge 25 or proof-of-age procedures where adopted
- Instructions to delivery staff or delivery partners
- No unattended delivery where that would undermine age controls
- Records of refused deliveries where appropriate
- Training for staff involved in order processing and fulfilment
Check the model before you launch
The licensing position follows the actual fulfilment arrangement, not the shopping cart. Marketplace and dropshipping models in particular should be checked against the contract, the stock location and who is making the retail sale.
Read the detailed explainer: where can I sell alcohol online? and selling alcohol from home.
Need help licensing an online alcohol business?
Licensing Solutions can review an online alcohol sales model and help identify the licensing applications needed for the fulfilment premises.
We can also prepare a new Premises Licence application or variation, and help with the Personal Licence and DPS requirements.
Premises Licence Application
- Review of your fulfilment model
- Premises licence application or variation
- Operating schedule covering remote sales
- DPS and personal licence support
Free initial consultation.
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